NBA daily fantasy picks: Five players who could help your lineup for Jan. 25
The NBA tips off the final week of January in style, with a nine-game Monday that features its two best teams, Golden State and San Antonio, squaring off in the nightcap. We have not one, but two, players who check in north of $11,000, with both Steph Curry and DeMarcus Cousins sitting at $11,200 on Monday. If you’re inclined to go with one of the two, Cousins should be the play. The big center is averaging a ridiculous 55.4 fantasy points over his last 10 games, reaching the 60-point mark four times. You won’t find either of them, however, in our recommended plays for Monday.
All prices are courtesy of FanDuel and based on a $60,000 budget.
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PG: Kemba Walker ($9,000) @ SAC:Walker has been one of the hottest players in the league over the last few weeks, notching at least 40 fantasy points five times in his last 10 games. His fantasy numbers have been aided by a couple of overtime games, but you don’t just luck into 60-plus-point games, even in overtime. The Kings, meanwhile, have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to point guards this year.
SG: Avery Bradley ($5,600) @ WAS:Bradley has been a scoring machine of late, averaging 19.5 points over his last four games. That has helped him put up an average of 30.4 fantasy points over the same time frame. Washington has struggled against shooting guards all season, allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game to the position on the year. Bradley gives you the flexibility necessary to pair him with the best shooting guard available on Monday, James Harden.
SF: Omri Casspi ($5,300) vs. CHA:Rudy Gay has missed the last two games with a heel injury, and is questionable for Monday night. Casspi has started in his place, and while he didn’t take advantage his last time out, his minutes load on its own makes him a very attractive play at just $5,300. Casspi did put up 31 fantasy points in his first game starting in Gay’s stead, so we know a ceiling for him to return a significant profit is there.
PF: Chris Bosh ($7,600) @ CHI: Bosh is one of the most consistent players in the league, rarely falling beneath his 33.5-fantasy-point season average. You certainly wouldn’t expect him to come up short of that in a matchup with the Bulls, which have had issues with big men all season. Bosh has cooled off in the rebounding department of late, so a matchup with the Joakim Noah-less Bulls could be the cure for what ails him.
C: Willie Cauley-Stein ($4,300) vs. CHA: The rookie out of Kentucky has really started to come on now that he’s getting consistent minutes alongside DeMarcus Cousins. Over his last three games, he’s averaging 10 points, 11 rebounds, one block, two steals and 30.4 fantasy points per game. Just as important, he’s getting 31 minutes per game in that span.
